Soy Milk Advantages and Disadvantages
Soy milk is a good source of protein, calcium and several vitamins, particularly if you can't eat dairy products. However, soy products can be high in sugar.
If you're allergic to dairy, lactose intolerant or you just aren't crazy about the taste of dairy milk, reach for soy milk as a comparable alternative. It generally has a longer shelf life than dairy milk, and some types of packaged soy milk can be stored at room temperature for months, which helps eliminate waste caused by food spoilage. Soy milk also has a number of nutritional advantages, although some varieties of soy milk come loaded with sugar, which can pose a health risk.
Read more: Should I Be Eating Soy?
Soy Milk Protein
Include soy milk in your diet as a source of protein. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, soy protein helps lower levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol. Each cup of unsweetened, plain soy milk provides 7 grams of protein, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Unlike most plant-based proteins — which contain some, but not all, of the amino acids you need in your diet — soy contains all nine essential amino acids. Your body assembles these amino acids into new proteins, including antibodies essential for immune system function, structural proteins that hold your tissues together, and enzymes that help your cells produce energy.
Read more: Soy Protein Vs. Meat Protein
Calcium and Iron
Drinking soy milk also helps boost your calcium and iron. Your body relies on the calcium from your diet to maintain dense and strong bone tissue. Without it, your body draws on your bones as a source of calcium, which reduces your bone density over time.
One cup of unsweetened plain soy milk boasts a calcium content of 301 milligrams. This contributes close to 30 percent toward your recommended daily calcium intake of 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.
The iron in soy milk helps your red blood vessels function properly, helping ensure that all the tissues throughout your body get the oxygen they need. Each serving of soy milk provides 1.1 milligrams of iron, contributing to the recommended daily intake of 8 milligrams for men and 18 milligrams for women.
Riboflavin and Vitamin B12
Soy milk also helps you consume B-complex vitamins, and serves as an especially rich source of riboflavin, or vitamin B2, and vitamin B12. Getting enough vitamin B12 in your diet helps your cells produce DNA, aids in red blood cell function and also keeps your nerves healthy.
One cup of soy milk provides 3 micrograms of vitamin B12, more than the 2.4 micrograms you need each day. The riboflavin in soy milk helps your cells produce energy, and it also shields your DNA from damage. Drinking one cup of soy milk boosts your riboflavin by 0.5 milligrams — close to 50 percent of the recommended daily intake.
Disadvantages: Separate Fact from Fiction
Don't shy away from including soy milk in your diet out of a fear of soy — the University of Maryland Medical Center notes that soy foods are safe for most people. The exceptions are those who have soy allergies and recent breast cancer patients. Because soy products, including soy milk, contain chemicals similar in structure to estrogen, a diet rich in soy might pose a health risk if you've recently had breast cancer, which is sometimes sensitive to estrogen. As a result, further research is needed to determine soy's safety after breast cancer.
However, some types of soy milk do have a major nutritional disadvantage because of their added sugar content. Added sugars boost your calories without offering nutritional value, and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Select unsweetened soy milk to minimize added sugar — it contains just 1 gram of naturally occurring sugars and no added sugar. Chocolate and vanilla flavored soy milks, in contrast, contain 20 and 7 grams of added sugar per serving, respectively.